Adam Kilgore, of The Washington Post, reports the Washington Nationals may choose to replace 1B Adam Dunn late in games in favor of a better defensive replacement. However, manager Jim Riggleman said they hope it is only a temporary procedure done in the early part of the season. "If we had a lead tomorrow, I probably would substitute for him late," Riggleman said. "But that's the goal, is to get to the point where we don't do that. There are examples all over baseball where there are some big-time players who are maybe not as good as somebody who could replace them. They do stay on the field. It's kind of hard to put in words, but you like your big guys, your big-time players, you like them to finish the game on the field rather than be replaced." OF Mike Morse, 2B Adam Kennedy, OF Josh Willingham, OF Willie Harris and SS Eric Bruntlett are all options to replace Dunn at first base.

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, of FOXSports.com, report the Philadelphia Phillies are interested in signing free-agent IF Juan Castro (Dodgers). They see him as an alternative to free-agent SS Eric Bruntlett (Phillies), who is unlikely to return.